Fob prototype for mobile device security

Nordic Semiconductor has announced successful wireless communication tests between a prototype design for a small, low-cost, Bluetooth, low-energy proximity fob and Broadcom's BCM4330, said to be the first combo chip solution certified to the Bluetooth 4.0 standard.

The innovative prototype fob design demonstrates the interoperability between Bluetooth low-energy chips and Bluetooth v4.0 devices. Adherence to the Bluetooth 4.0 specification ensures that devices from different providers such as Broadcom and Nordic communicate seamlessly.

The recently released Bluetooth v4.0 Proximity Profile enables the communication between the fob and next-generation host devices like laptops (using the Broadcom BCM20702) and mobile phones (using the BCM4330).

The fob is designed to prevent a device such as a laptop being accessed in the owner's absense. After 'pairing' with the chip in the mobile device, the user carries the fob on their person. If the distance between the user and the mobile device exceeds a preset threshold (as may occur, for example, if the mobile device is left behind or stolen), the pairing is broken and the mobile device automatically locks.

According to Peter Cooney, practice director, Semiconductors, ABI Research, "Almost all existing Bluetooth-enabled phones are expected to migrate to the 4.0 standard, which will result in over a billion Bluetooth low-energy-capable hosts in the next few years in this market alone.

"This demonstration of seamless communication ... provides end customers with the lowest power peripheral/host solution available today," says Sven-Tore Larsen, CEO of Nordic, "The proximity fob application is an inexpensive solution to the problem of mobile device security and perfectly demonstrates how Bluetooth low energy can be incorporated into compact, coin-cell-powered devices to extend the Bluetooth 'ecosystem'.

"Demand for Bluetooth low energy continues to grow as the technology is integrated into the increasing number of consumer electronics devices," comments Craig Ochikubo, vice president and general manager, Broadcom's wireless personal area networking line of business.

"By incorporating Bluetooth v4.0 into all of our combo chips moving forward, Broadcom is working to enable a world where the millions of Bluetooth devices being shipped daily can communicate with sensors that can be placed throughout the home, workplace and even on the human body. This will not only simplify connectivity for consumers, but will also help drive new innovative implementations into new areas including health, fitness and home entertainment, among others."